Research Outline
2016-08-04 15:47:30

The first is on molecular virology of hepatitis viruses. Current focus is on the hepatitis D virus(HDV). HDV is the simplest RNA virus that employs a very unique strategy for viral replication and expression. It uses a currently unknown cellularRNA polymerase and one viral protein, the small-hepatitis delta antigen for replication. We are interested in identifying this cellular polymerase by genetic and biochemical approaches. Viral small delta antigen is modified post-translationally (such as phosphorylation). These modifications play important role in ushering in different stage of viral life cycle. The mechanisms are under investigation.
The second is on the treatment of hepatitis B. Persistenthepatitis B has been very difficult to eradicate, though many current treatments can suppress HBV to a low level. Recently, stimulation of cellular immunity by therapeutic vaccine (especially DNA-based) becomes a promising approach. We set up a chronic hepatitis B animal model (in woodchucks) and would try the therapeutic vaccine.
The third part is related to liver cancer. Cancer is now considered as a genetic disease of somatic cells whose chromosomes are mutated because of carcinogen-induced injuries. Search for genes with mutations in liver cancer genomes will shed light on the transformation process. Genome research technique, including allele mapping, linkage analysis, large-scale sequencing and functional genomics will be applied. The laboratory welcome new blood showing strong interest and motivation in these fields.

Health-related quality of life in thrombocytopenic patients with chronic hepatitis C with or without cirrhosis in the ENABLE-1 and ENABLE-2 studies
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
2016
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journal-article
vol.14,no.1
Grotzinger, K.M. and Younossi, Z.M. and Giannini, E.G. and Chen, P.-J. and Rendas-Baum, R. and Theodore, D.
NTU:
PEI-JER CHEN

Depletion of β-catenin from mature hepatocytes of mice promotes expansion of hepatic progenitor cells and tumor development
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
2011
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journal-article
vol.108,no.45,page.18384-18389
Wang, E.-Y. and Yeh, S.-H. and Tsai, T.-F. and Huang, H.-P. and Jeng, Y.-M. and Lin, W.-H. and Chen, W.-C. and Yeh, K.-H. and Chen, P.-J. and Chen, D.-S.
NTU:
HSIANG-PO HUANG,
PEI-JER CHEN,
KUN-HUEI YEH,
SHIOU-HWEI YEH,
DING-SHINN CHEN

New variants and age shift to high fatality groups contribute to severe successive waves in the 2009 influenza pandemic in Taiwan
PLoS ONE
2011
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journal-article
vol.6,no.11
Yang, J.-R. and Huang, Y.-P. and Chang, F.-Y. and Hsu, L.-C. and Lin, Y.-C. and Su, C.-H. and Chen, P.-J. and Wu, H.-S. and Liu, M.-T.
NTU:
PEI-JER CHEN

Rapid growth of a hepatocellular carcinoma and the driving mutations revealed by cell-population genetic analysis of whole-genome data
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
2011
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journal-article
vol.108,no.29,page.12042-12047
Tao, Y. and Ruan, J. and Yeh, S.-H. and Lu, X. and Wang, Y. and Zhai, W. and Cai, J. and Ling, S. and Gong, Q. and Chong, Z. and Qu, Z. and Li, Q. and Liu, J. and Yang, J. and Zheng, C. and Zeng, C. and Wang, H.-Y. and Zhang, J. and Wang, S.-H. and Hao, L. and Dong, L. and Li, W. and Sun, M. and Zou, W. and Yu, C. and Li, C. and Liu, G. and Jianga, L. and Xu, J. and Huang, H. and Li, C. and Mi, S. and Zhang, B. and Chen, B. and Zhao, W. and Hu, S. and Zhuang, S.-M. and Shen, Y. and Shi, S. and Brown, C. and White, K.P. and Chen, D.-S. and Chen, P.-J. and Wu, C.-I.
NTU:
PEI-JER CHEN,
HURNG-YI WANG,
SHIOU-HWEI YEH,
DING-SHINN CHEN

An immunocompetent mouse model for the tolerance of human chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
2006
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journal-article
vol.103,no.47,page.17862-17867
Huang, L.-R. and Wu, H.-L. and Chen, P.-J. and Chen, D.-S.
NTU:
PEI-JER CHEN,
DING-SHINN CHEN